Sisler's Cyber Security Program Receives Provincial Funds

Sisler High School’s cyber security academy is getting a shot in the arm from the Province of Manitoba.

 

Premier Greg Selinger was at the school Thursday to announce the province is investing $300,000 to upgrade classrooms and install new equipment that will allow the school to create a network and a cyber security virtual data centre.

 

“Cyber security is one of the major growth fields in the information technology area because every organization has massive amounts of data, often private and personal information and it needs to be protected,” explained Selinger of why the province is beefing up in the school’s pre-existing program. “When you can take a program that’s been well developed by local leadership and be able leverage it up to a higher level, we know it’s going to benefit students.”

 

As well as the technical upgrades, students will now also be able to access dual credits through partnerships with Red River College and the University of Winnipeg for advanced placement and post-secondary credits.

 

The school also works closely with employers to give students paid internships, work experience and jobs once they graduate from high school.

 

“There’s no doubt the skills we acquired here are what got us jobs in the industry,” said Nick Dixon, a former cyber security student from Sisler who’s now working as an information security analyst at Seccuris. “All this additional funding is really going to help us mentor current and future students of the academy.”

 

[Photo Credit: Metro News]

 

Original Article: http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/1211752/province-investing-in-sisler-high-schools-cyber-security-program/